Dr. O. Finsch's Ornithological Letters. 49 



side. These consisted solely of European winter residents, 

 such as Corvus cor ax, C. comix, C. frugilegus, C. monedula, 

 Pica caudata, Emberiza citrinella, Pyrrhula vulgaris, and 

 Ducks and Swans in great numbers, which rested on the open 

 water of every river and lake. Before reaching Tjumen, and 

 between that town and Omsk, we observed Tetrao tetrix and 

 Lagopus alpinus everywhere in great numbers. Of the former 

 we met with a flock of about sixty or more. They were feed- 

 ing on the road, and allowed us to approach within shot. 



At Omsk we made the acquaintance of Professor Slovzoff, 

 the most accomplished and diligent collector in Siberia. His 

 collection, which forms the museum of the Military Gym- 

 nasium, contains a number of birds, all, however, belonging 

 to European species. A fine specimen of Gypaetus came 

 from the Balchasch, a species said to occur in the southern 

 Altai. We did not ourselves meet with this bird of prey. 

 Whilst here we obtained a specimen of Parus cyaneus, being 

 the third seen by Professor Slovzoflf during a nine years' resi- 

 dence at Omsk. 



On leaving Omsk we travelled as quickly as possible across 

 the steppe along the Kozakline to Semipalatinsk, where we 

 arrived on the 29th of April. On the road we observed num- 

 bers of Falco rufipes, F. cenchris. Circus cyaneus, and for the 

 first time Alauda sibirica, A. tartarica, Motacilla citreola 

 {one only), Charadrivs gregarius, Otis tarda, and 0. tetrax. 

 Cranes, and large flocks of Ducks, Geese, and Swans. We 

 saw a single H<3em,atopus ostralegus, a species we did not meet 

 with again until reaching the Irtisch and Ob rivers. Corvus 

 comix, C. frugilegus, C. monedula. Pica caudata, and Sturnus 

 vulgaris were everywhere common. The Crows and Magpies 

 built their nests, in default of large trees, on bushes, some- 

 times only a few feet from the ground. Corvus corone we 

 never saw, and the Raven only near woods. In the environs 

 of Semipalatinsk we obtained Saxicola leucomela, Phyllo- 

 scopus tristis, and Cyanecula suecica (with the maroon- coloured 

 throat-spot) ; the same bird we afterwards found in the Chinese 

 Altai and on the Irtisch. 



On the 3rd of May we went to the Arcad Mountains, 



SEK. IV. VOL. I. E 



